Contact finger



H. PETERSEN Dec. 5, 1933.

CONTACT FINGER Filed July 10, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEV Patented Dec. 1933 r i UNETED STATES A ENT QFFICE' CONTACT FINGER Hans Petersen, Wanwatosa, Wis, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Allen-Bradley Company, Milwaukee, Wis a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 10, 1931. Serial No. 549,970

15 Claims. (or. 200-166) "Tl'iis'invention relates to improvements in concompanying drawing, the numeral 5 represents "tact devices and refers more particularly to cona supporting member which is formed from tact fingers ior-use with electric controllers of bendable metal and is substantially channel the drum type. shaped in cross section to provide a bottom wall 5 It is an object of this invention to provide an 6 and spaced parallel side walls 7. One end por- 60 improved mounting for a movable contact finger tlon 8 of the supporting member is-indented to which permits full pivotal movement thereof to engage and be secured to stationary rods 9. The insure self-alignment of the contact finger with rods 9 are formed of metal and to insulate-the :a segment or other element cooperating theresupporting member 5 therelrcm have insulating '10 with. I sleeves 10 mounted thereon. A clamping mem- 65 Another object of this invention is to'provide her 11 bridg ng t e F065 9 fip With a an improved manner of connecting the movable Screw 12 to secure the supp r member 430 contact element with a fixed terminal by means the rods. a of a flexible current conductor. Mounted between the spaced parallel side Another object of this inventionresides in a walls 7 0 he uppor in m mberis a movable 70 In the accompanying drawing, one complete novel mounting for the compression spring Contact 13 the innel end of which has a ball which biases the movable contact to a predemember 14 fiXedtheretO by a riv t 1 0 engage .termined position. in a socket 16 formed in the bottom wall Got A further object of'this invention resides in th ppo n member 5 n p v l r mount 520 the specific manner in which the compression the Contact I'd-from the SupD be 75 sprint;- is readily rerngvably maintained Opel; The outer end of the movable; contact mounts a ative relationship to the supporting member and Contact t 17 Which is d p f0? e gagement the movable contactor, with a drum segment 18. In the present in- And a till further object of thi invention stance the contact device is stationary and the sides in the provision of locking means for the segmiint? '3 moves into e a ment w th thB 89 adjusting screw of the movable contact, which COIltacl? p' is maintained in operative relationship to the The Contact p '7- iS fiXed t0 he'movable adjusting screw by th compression spring contact 13 by a cap screw 19 whichis threaded which biases the movable contactor. in Opening in the t p 17- It is Observed that With the above and other objects in view t threaded Opening eXtend-sentirely t ough which will appear as the description proceeds, the tip 17 S0 that'it may be readily reversed this invention resides in the novel construction, to Provide a plurality of Wearing sulfmesbi ti d arrangement of parts Substan- Good electrical connection between the contact. tially as hereinafter described and more partip and an eXtelnal Conductor (not W l) is ticularly defined by the appended claims, it beafiolded'by a fleXible I dHCtOr strip 26. OneF ing understood that such changes in the precise end G1? the Strip 20 is clamped betwesn the embodiment of the herein-disclosed invention met up 17 d the adjacent Portion of themovz' may be made as come within the scope of the able must and its opposite end is clamped Claims. 7 between a nut 21 on the screw 12 serving to hold the supporting member on the rods 5, and a 95 (v 1 f th h l i second nut 22 likewise threaded on the screw. exrzmp e 0 e p ysmal embodlment of thls m A terminal 23 is clamped between the nuts 21 vention is illustrated according to the best mode g so far devised for the practical application of the gg fig gg 212252; 1th the adJacvnt end of the' prfclples t in which: 'It is noted that the flexible strip 20 passes 100 lgure l perspefmve of a Contact between the ball member 14 and the adjacentembodymg thls mventlon; inner end portion of the movable contact and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken is rigidly clamped therebegween by t rivet throu h the Contact device and illustrating its so that the flexible conductor strip is not subrelat o p a drum Segment; jected to wearing friction by the pivotal move- 1 Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken through merit of the movable contact. Figure 2 on the plane of the line 33; and The movable contact is yieldably urged to- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through ward the supporting member, and the ball mem- Figure 2 on the plane of the line 4-4. ber 14 retained in the socket 16 by a compres- Referring now more particularly to the acsion spring 24 disposed between upward extensions 7 on the supporting member side walls 7 and confined between the movable contact and a cap member 25.

The cap member 25 is of novel construction and has a readily detachable connection with the outermost ends of the projections '1. As best illustrated in Figure 3 the cap member is fixed to the outer end of the spring 24 by tangs 26 which are struck down to engage under the adjacent coil of the spring and has outwardly directed arms 27 which engage in bayonet slots 28 formed in the walls 7'. When the cap is fully engaged with the bayonet slots, its arms 27 engage in the innermost ends of the bayonet slots behind their abutments 29 to prevent accidental detachment.

However, it will be observed that the cap 25 may be readily disengaged from the supporting member bayonet slots by merely depressing the same against the force of the spring and moving it outwardly.

The compression spring yieldably urges the movable contact toward the supporting member bottom wall 6 and, to adjustably limit the movement of the movable contact by the spring and thus enable adjustment of the contact tip with respect to the segment 18, a stop screw 30 is provided. This screw is threaded in an aperture in the movable contact and bears against the bottom wall 6 of the supporting member.

A locking member 31 prevents accidental rotation of the stop screw 30. This member is bent medially upon itself to form two arms 32 and 33. The arm 32 is adapted to engage the head of the stop screw 30 and the arm 33 is apertured as at 34 to loosely receive the screw, so that the locking member is at all times maintained assembled with the screw. Beyond the screw 30 the arm 33 of the locking member is offset downwardly to form a fulcrum 35 and the end portion beyond the fulcrum has a raised tit 36 which forms a seat for the adjacent end of the compression spring. a

From this it will be seen that the compression spring not only yieldably urges the movable contact toward the supporting member to afiord contact pressure, but also serves to maintain the locking member 31 in operative engagement with the stop screw by holding the same in a position of rocking movement about the fulcrum 35 at which its end 31 is engaged with the head of the stop screw. Obviously the screw may be adjusted without removing the spring.

It is noted that at the juncture of the extensions '7 with the side walls 7 their rear edges are slotted as at 3'7 and as best illustrated in Figure 4, the movable contact portion disposed between the inner edge of the slots 3'7 and the opposite sides of the extensions 7 is reduced in width as at 38 so that abutments 39 are formed at the extreme inner end of the movable contact. These abutments are receivedin the slots 37 and the purpose of this connection is to necessitate a lateral movement on the part of the movable contact with respect to the supporting member to effect disengagement of the member 14 from the socket thereby precluding the possibility of a jar incidental to a quick engagement of the segment with the contact tip, disengaging the ball and socket joint.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character-described appertains that the contact device of this invention is particularly well suited to heavy current service and is capable of withstanding long and severe duty. It is also apparent that the novel manner in which the compression spring is retained in position facilitates disassembly and assembly of its parts and that the adjusting means is locked against accidental actuation by novel means which utilizes the action of the compression spring. It is further apparent that the contact tip may be readily turned about to present a new wearing surface or that a new contact tip may be readily installed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a contact device of the character described, a supporting member, a movable contact, means pivotally connecting the movable contact with the supporting member whereby the movable contact is movable toward and away from the supporting member, an adjusting screw for limiting the movern-e; t oi" the movable contact toward the supporting member, lock means for the adjusting screw, and a compression spring for maintaining the lock means in operative relation to the adjusting screw and for yieldably urging the movable contact toward the supporting member.

2, A contact device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a movable contact, a pivotal connection between the movable contact and the supporting member enabling the movable contact to move toward and away from the supporting member, an adjusting screw for limiting the movement of the movable contact toward the supporting member, a locking membar for the adjusting screw having its medial portion bent to provide a fulcrum, said locking member having a part at one sideof the fulcrum en ageable with the adjusting screw, and a compression spring engaging a part of the locking member on the other side of the fulcrum to maintain said first mentioned locking member part in operative engagement with the adjusting screw, and to yieldably urge the movable contact toward the supporting member.

3. A contact device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a movable contact, a pivotal connection between the movable contact and the supporting member enabling movement of the movable contact toward and i away from the supporting member, an adjusting screw for limiting the movement of the movable contact toward the supporting member, a lockin member for preventing accidental actuation of the adjusting screw and bent medially upon itself to form angularly disposed end portions, one end portion engaging the adjusting screw, the other end portion overlying part of the contact finger, and a compression spring confined between said overlying part of the locking member and an abutment carried by the supporting member whereby the compression spring yieldably maintains the locking member in its position-engaging the adjusting screw and yieldably urges the movable contact finger toward the supporting member.

4. A contact device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a movable contact, apivotal connection between the movable contact and .the supporting member enathe contact clamped therebetween,

supporting member, a locking member for preventing accidental movement of the adjusting screw and bent medially upon itself to dispose its end portions angularly with respect to each other with its medial portion forming a dimcrum engageable with the movable contact and about which the locking member is rockable to move one end portion thereof into and out of? engagement with the adjusting screw, a spring:

seat formed on the opposite end portion of the locking member, a spring seat carried by the supporting member, and a compression spring confined between said, spring seats. whereby" the compression spring holds the locking member in the position of rocking movement about its fulcrum engaging the same with the adjusting screw and also yieldably urges the movable contact toward the supporting member.

5. In a contact device of the character described, a supporting member a contact member movable toward and away from the supporting member, a spring for yieldably urging the contact member toward the supporting member, an adjusting screw for limiting the movement of member toward the supporting member, a locking member bent medially upon itself to provide a fulcrum and having an opening loosely receiving the adjusting screw whereby the locking member is maintained assembled with the adjusting screw with part of the locking member at one side of its fulcrum engageable with the adjusting screw to prevent acci-,

dental rotation thereof, and a spring seat on the locking member part at the opposite side of the fulcrum engageable by the compression spring whereby the compression spring maintains the locking member in a position of'movement about its fulcrum engaging the same with the adjusting screw.

6. A contact ringer of the character described, comprising a supporting member formed from bendable metal and provided with a socket in one wall, a movable contact, mounting means for the supporting member, a flexible conductor extending from the mounting means to. the

outer end of the movable contact, a ball member engageable in the socket, means for securing the ball member to the movable contact with the adjacent portion of the flexible conductorand a compression spring for yieldably urging the movable contact to a predetermined position with respect to the supporting member.

7. A contact device of the character described, comprising a supporting member formed from bendable metal and having a pair or" substantialiy parallel walls connected by a third wall, a movable contact having a part disposedbetween said substantially parallel walls, a ball and socket connection between the movable contact and the third wall permitting movement of the movable contact toward and away from the supporting member third wall, a compression spring having one end engageable with the movable contact for yieldably urging the same toward the third wall, and a spring rest engageable with the other end of the compressionspring and readily detachably engaged with the; outer end portions of said substantially;-pfarallelspaced walls.

s'pringqbetweensaid spaced Walls and engaging thelmovable contact to yieldably urge the same in one direction; a spring rest engaging the otherend of the compression spring, and means formed on said spring rest and readily detachably engaged with said spaced walls. .9- In a contact device of the character described, a supporting member having spaced walls, a movable contact having a part disposed between said spacedlwalls and movable with respect tolthe supporting member, a compressionf spring between said spaced walls and engaging the movable contact to yieldably 'urgethe same in one direction, a member attached to the other end of the compression spring, and projections extending from said member and readily detachably engageable in slots formed in the spaced walls whereby said member receives support from the :spaced walls and the spring is readily detachably held in its operative position.

10; In a contact device of the character de-- scribed, a supporting member having spaced. walls, a movable contact having a part disposed between said spaced walls and movable with respect to the supporting member, a compression spring between said spaced walls and engaging the movable contact to yieldably urge the same in one direction, a cap member engaged over the other end of the spring, means for securing the cap member to the spring, said capmember being received between the spaced walls, and projections extended from opposite sides or" the cap member and readily detachably engaged in slots formed'in the spaced walls.

11. In a contact device of the character described, a supporting member having spaced walls provided with bayonet slots, a contact" yieldably urging the movable contact toward a predetermined position.

12. In a contact device of the character described a supporting member having spaced substantially parallel walls connected by a third wall, said third wall having a socket and the spaced parallel walls having slots adjacent said socket, amovable contact having a part disposed between the spaced substantially parallel walls, a ball member carried by the movable contact and engaged in the socket topivotally connect the movable contact with the supporting memher, a compression spring yieldably urging the movable contact to a predetermined position with respect to the supporting member, and means carried by the movable contact and engaging in the slots in the spaced substantially parallel walls to necessitate lateral motion on disengagement of the ball member from the socket is prevented.

13. In a contact device of the characterde scribed, a contact arm having a stepped end portion providing an abutment, a flexible conductor having a part overlying the stepped end portion of the contact arm, a contact tip having a single threaded opening, an attaching screw passed through an opening in the contact arm and threaded in the opening in the contact .tip, said threaded opening, being so locatedas to secure the tip to the arm inv a position with oneend through the contact tip and the contact tip be.-

ing symmetrical, to enable the. samev to be mounted so as to present either of two surfaces to an element engageable therewith 1.4. In a contact device of the characterdescribed, a supporting member, a contact. sup

ported from andv movable with respect. to the supporting member, an, adjusting screw to define one of the limits of movementof the movable contact, a locking member fulcrumed. to,

moveto and from operative engagement with the adjusting screw to hold the acfiusting screw.

against accidental actuation, and. a spring. to

hold the locking member in operative engagement with the adjusting screw and to yieldably urge the movable contact to its limit of movement defined by the adjusting screw.

15. In a contact device of the character described, a supporting member, a contact supported from and movable with respect to the supporting member, an adjusting screw movable with the contact and bearing against the supporting member to define one of the limits of movement of the contact, a locking member engaging the adjusting screw to hold the same against, accidental actuation, said locking member having a part extending laterally away from the adjusting screw, and a spring bearing against said locking member part and the contact to simultaneously hold the locking member in engagement with the adjusting screw and to yieldably urge the movable contact to its limit of movement defined by the adjusting screw.

HANS PETERSEN. 

